NJ town backs out of pope live stream event after complaint

CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey shore city of Cape May has nixed plans to sponsor a live stream of Pope Francis' public Mass in Philadelphia amid threats of legal action.

The Press of Atlantic City reports (http://bit.ly/1JbfeVy ) members of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a Washington-based advocacy group, filed a formal complaint Sept. 10 speaking out against the event.

The complaint said the papal Mass viewing party planned for Sept. 27 at Cape May Convention Hall violated constitutional law prohibiting government bodies from communicating a message of endorsement of religion.

The group provided a Tuesday deadline for the city to back out of its plans or prepare for legal action.

The Cape May Ministerium, a collective of priests representing churches of various denominations, will now sponsor the event.

___

Information from: The Press of Atlantic City (N.J.), http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com